Boat



July '16, 1940. R, R O'BRN 2,208,469

Il?" um Hill l l Mul m www,

Ralph H. 0231.@

July 16, 1940. R. R. o'BRlEN BOAT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May l0, 1939 WML.

@NOW

RaLp/z/ P. O'B17Le/L.

R. R. o'BRu-:N 2,208,469

BOAT

Filed May 10, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 16 1940.

Ragolbopim l 36mm- July 16, 1940. R R @Bmg-3N 2,208,469

BOAT

Filed May l0, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 16, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BoA'r Ralph R. OBrien, Columbia, S. C. Application May 1o, i939, serial No. 272,903

11 claims. (ci. cuz-76) My invention relates to boats. i

An important object of the invention is to provide a boat or barge with means whereby the same may be navigated in shallow streams otherwise unnavigable by the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cargo carrying boat with digging or scraping means operating near the bottom of the boat, to remove-raised portions or obstructions in the bed of 'a shallow stream or river, to prevent the boat being grounded. Y y

A further object of the invention is to so arrange the blades that they are brought in succession intc digging or scraping engagement withthe obstruction. v i

UA further object of the invention is to` provide means of the above-mentioned character which may operate to dig or remove thesilt or sand, while the barge is being propelled.

means for introducing water under pressure, in

close proximity to the traveling blade, `to aid the same in digging away the silt or sand.

A further object of the invention is to provide an upper deck or cover, arranged above the digging or scraping devices and adapted to receive thereon the cargo.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cargo carrying barge embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a plan View of the same,

Figure 2a is a transverse section taken on line 2a-2a of Figure 2, l

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a similar view taken on line 4 4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is an edge elevation of a portion of one of the endless scraping or digging elements, associated elements being in section,

Figure 7 is a plan view of the same,

Figure 10 is a front elevation of the barge,

A further object of the invention is to providey a barge of the above-mentioned character having Figure 8 is a transverse section taken on line Figure 11 is a perspective view of the spraying system, and, Figure 12 is a perspective view of the gearing.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of f illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral Ill designates a boat, barge, or floating body which is relatively shallow and has a iiat bottom II. The boat or barge also `has a `ilat top or deck I2. The numeral I3 designates the bow of the boat or barge, which is of the boat or barge.

Arranged within the several longitudinal passages I9 are tracks or guides 20, which extend longitudinally over the deck I2, aboutthe bow I3 and stern I4, and beneaththe bottom II, and are rigidly secured to these parts, by bolts or the like. Each track or guide comprises a` pair of spaced angle-irons 2I, rigidly attached vto the boat or barge I0. The webs 22 of the angle-irons 2| are vertically arranged and these vertical webs 22, Figure 8, are connected at equidistantly spaced points by horizontal shafts 23, passing through openings 24, and held in place by suitable means,

such as washers 25 and cotter pins 26. `The shafts 23 carry rollers or sleeves 21, rotatable thereon.

Endless digging or scraping devices operate upon and within the tracks or guides 2l, and correspond in number and arrangement with relation thereto. Each endless digging-or scraping device includes an endless chain 28, including pairs of link 29 and 30, pivotally connected by pins 3|, carrying spacers 32. Welded or otherwise rigidly securedto' selected links 3l]V arefattaching blocks 33. These blocks are disposed upon the outer sides of the links 30, and project above or outwardly of the same for a substantial distance, while the inner ends of the blocks terminate short of the inner edges of the links 30. The attaching blocks 33 operate within and between the webs 22, and are adapted to slidably engage these webs, but the all-over distance between the outer faces of the blocks 33 is slightly less than the all-over distance between the inner I8 are.

sponding to the bearings 46.

faces of the webs 22, so that the parts will not bind in operation, as clearly shown in Figure 8. The links 29 and 3B travel in contact with the rollers AZ'I, and retain the blocks 33 spaced from these rollers, as shown. The pairs of blocks 33 are preferably equidistantly spaced in each endless digger or scraper.

Secured to the outer ends of each pair of blocks 33 is a digger or scraper, which is L-shaped. in cross-section and comprises a horizontal web 3.4 and a vertical blade 35. The-blade is provided upon its trailing side with a horizontal stiifening web 36, formed integral therewith. The horizon-"f tal web 34 is mounted upon the outer ends ofy the attaching blocks 33 and is rigidly secured thereto by pairs of bolts 31 or the like. 1

As more clearly shown in Figure 2 of `the draw.- ings the blades 35 are preferably arranged inV V-shaped groups, and these groups are" spaced longitudinally of the boat or barge. The blades in each armof the V-shap'edY group are'also `spaced longitudinally ofthe boat Vor barge and are the deck I2. `The shaft 39' is journaled in bearings ,46, Figure 5, preferably welded to the angleirons 2! or otherwise rigidly attached thereto.' At the bow ofthe boat or bargeld, the endless, sprocket chains 28 pass about sets of sprocket Wheels 4I, rigidly mounted upon a horizontal transverse shaft 42, journaled in bearingscorrealso pass about sets of sprocket wheels'43 rigidly 401 bearings corresponding to the bearings j vThe shafts 42 and 44 are arrangedfnear the'deck i2. Disposed near the bow I 3 and'adjacent to the forward end of the bottom I-I is a set of sprocket wheels 45, mounted upon a transverseY shaft 46,

ings 4I). The sprocket chains also pass about 'sets of sprocket wheels 4l, arranged at the lower end of the stern I4 and adjacent to the rear end of the bottom-I I` and these sprocket wheels 4l are rigidly mounted upon a transverse shaft( 4f!V journaled' in bearings corresponding to the bearingsil. Sets of sprocket wheels 49 are arranged'nearthe upper end of the stern I4 and near' therearend of the deck I2 and are carried b y transverse shafts 5B, journaled in bearings corresponding to the bearingsvllli. The sprocket chains 28v pass about and engage the sprocket wheels-45, as shown. The several sets of sprocket wheels serve to guide the sprocket chains, and hence the guide 56, enga-ging a beveled gear 5l, secured to a horizontal shaft 58. The shaft 58 is connected with a horizontal shaft 59, through the medium off reversible gearing 60. The shaft 59 drives a beveled gear 6I, which in turn engages and-drives 'abev- The endless 'chains Journaled in bearings corresponding Ato thebear-I' eled gear 62, rigidly mounted upon the shaft 39. Itis thus seen that power is applied to the shaft 39 to drive it, and this shaft in turn drives the several sprocket chains 28 through the medium of the sprocket wheels 3B.

Means are provided to propel the boat or barge, comprising paddle wheels 63, located at the stern of the boat or barge, and carried by a shaft 64, rotatably supported in arms 55, secured to the boat or barge. Near itscenter the shaft 64 has a beveled gear 55, driven by a beveled gear 51, rigidly secured to a diagonal shaft 58, having a beveled gear 69 secured to its upper end. This beveled gear ISS is driven by a beveled gear l!)` rigidly mounted upon a shaft ll, connected with and driven by theshaft 52, through the medium of reversible gearing l2.

, The barge is equipped with a rudder 13, operatedby any suitable means.

The numeral 'i4 designates a cabin enclosing the engine 5i and associated elements.

The I-beains i8 aredsposed only upon the top ofthe barge ordeck I2.` Pipes 'I5 extend longitudinally'between the I-beams and 'may be' secured thereto. These pipes extend downwardly about the bow i3 and are equipped at their ends withnozzles'v i8, located in a straighthorizontal row adjacent to the forward end of the bottom I I.v These nozzles serve to-spray water under pressure in close proximity to the blades 35 as these blades engage with the hill or bank, thus aiding the and in working' the sand or the like rearwardly. The blades 35am disposed iii-transverse V-shaped groups, so that the blades in each group moving longitudinally of the barge engage the hill orbank insuccession. v:The nozzles are arranged inv a straight transverserow, so that jets of 'water are projected under pressure in proximity to each blade as it engages the bank or hill in succession. The pipes 'l5 extend rearwardly and are connected with a common pipe T9, having connection with the outlet side of a rotary water pump.`

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The rboat or vbarge may be loaded with cargo placed upon the upper deck I5. The engine 5I drives the paddle wheels 4S3 which propel the barge. When the boat or barge I0 approaches a hill lor bank Ain thebed of the shallow stream, the'successivc transverse groups of blades 35 engage the bank, and dig or scrape the same away and' dragy the loose materialrearwardly. This action is aided by the spraying of the water under pressure from the nozzles in proximity to the blades 35. tion the travel of the barge may be stopped in whole or in part, and as the hill is cut away sufficiently to permit of the floating of the boat o1' barge the same is propelled forwardly, and the successive groups of blades dig or scrape into the hill A' until it is entirely dug or scraped away. In this manner the barge may navigate shallow streams which would otherwise be unnavigable.

It is to be understood that the forrn of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be vresorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention 0r the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A barge or the like, endless guides secured to the barge, endless flexible elements operating within the guides, means to drive the endless flexible elements, transverse sets of blades spaced longitudinally of the endless flexible elements, the blades in each set being separate and secured to the adjacent endless flexible element, the blades in the transverse sets being transversely spaced, a deck arranged above the blades, and means mounted upon the barge to support the deck and extending into the spaces between the blades.

2. A barge or the like, endless gui-des extending longitudinally about the barge and secured thereto and being transversely spaced, endless flexible elements engaging the guides, transverse groups o1"- blades spaced longitudinally of the endless flexible elements, the blades in each group being secured to the adjacent endless flexible elements and having their ends spaced transversely of the barge, supporting members secured to the barge and extending longitudinally thereof and arranged between the ends of the blades, and a deck carried b-y the supporting members.

3. A barge or the like, endless guides extending longitudinally around the barge and secured thereto and being transversely spaced, endless flexible elements operating within the guides, substantially V-shaped groups of blades spaced longitudinally of the endless llexible elements, the blades in each V-shaped group being spaced and secured to the adjacent exible elements, and means to drive the flexible elements,

4. A barge or the like, endless guides extending longitudinally around the barge and secured thereto and being transversely spaced, endless flexible elements operating within the guides, means to drive the exible elements, transverse groups of blades spaced longitudinally of the flexible elements, the blades in each group being longitudinally and transversely spaced with respect to the barge and secured to the adjacent flexible elements, supporting members secured to the top of the barge and arranged between the spaced ends of the blades in said groups `and extending above the blades, and means mounted upon the supporting members and providing a deck above the blades.4

5. A barge or the like, a guide secured to the barge and inclu-ding spaced guide members, rollers mounted between the guide members, a chain operating between the guide members and engaging the rollers and including links, attaching blocks secured to certain of the links and disposed between the chains and the guide members, blades mounted upon and secured to the attaching blocks and means to drive the chain.

6. A barge or the like, a guide secured to the sarge and including spaced guide members, rollers mounted between the guide members, a chain operating between the guide members and engaging the rollers and including pairs of links,

pairs of attaching blocks secured to certain pairs of links and disposed between the chain and the guide members, a transverse blade mounted upon each pair of attaching blocks and provided upon its trailing side with a stiflening rib, bolts for securing the blade to the pair of attaching blocks and means to drive the chain.

7. A barge or the like, endless guides extending about the barge and secured thereto, each guide including a pair of spaced guide members and rollers arranged between and secured to the guide members, endless chains operating within the guides and engaging the rollers, attaching blocks` secured to the chains and arranged between them and the guide members, blades secured to the attaching blocks, and means to drive the chains.

8. A barge or the like, supporting members secured to the top of the barge and extending longitudinally of the same and transversely spaced to provide passages, endless guide devices extending longitudinally about the barge and having their upper portions arranged within the passages, endless flexible elements operating within the guides, blades operating within the passages and secured to the endless flexible elements means to drive the flexible elements, and a supporting structure mounted upon the supporting members above the passages.

9. A barge or the like, supporting members secured to the top of the barge and extending only longitudinally of the top and transversely spaced to provide passages, endless guide devices extending longitudinally about the barge and having their upper portions arranged within the passages, the endless guide devices extending around the bow and stern of the barge and transversely spaced, blades operating within the passages, flexible endless elements engaging the guides and carrying the blades, pipes extending about the bow and arranged between the guides and provided at their free ends with nozzles arranged adjacent to the bottom or" the barge, the nozzles projecting streams of water in proximity to the blades when they engage an obstruction, means to supply water under pressure to the pipes, and a deck mounted upon the supporting members and arranged above the guides for holding cargo.

10. A barge having a top, supporting members secured to the top of the barge and spaced to provide passages, endless flexible elements operating within the passages, guide means for the endless flexible elements, blades carried by the endless flexible elements and movable through the passages, a deck arranged above the passages and covering the same and mounted upon the supporting members, and means .to drive the endless ilexible elements.

11. A barge or the like, a deck secured to the upper portion of the barge and forming a passage, an endless flexible element having a run traveling through the passage beneath the deck, means mounted upon the barge to support and guide the endless flexible element, blades secured to the endless flexible element and operating through the passage, and means to drive the endless flexible element.

RALPH R. OBRIENa 

